Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Poem ~ Greece: Verge of War? - Thursday, 26 August 1915


Impression sketch of Prime Minister Venizélos - by Jamie. See original at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleftherios_Venizelos


A neutral nation was verging
On state of war - a growing
Situation of Greek attitudes
Against old enemies -
Founded in persecutions.

Dating back two years -
1913 saw evictions and
With other acts, made
From the Balkan wars -
By suspicion fueled fears.

A slow erosion of neutral
Countries, causing a pull
Of a destabilization process -
Leading to side with allies
Against the Central Powers.

Yet Greek contradictions
Remained, with the pro-
German King Constantine;
With his marriage and army
Influence of Germany.

Uncertain politics had led
To democratic majority,
To side against Austria
Germany and Turkey; as
King faked illness in delays.

Between the Prime Minister
Venizélos and King Schism
Threats grew - affecting
Treaty of Serbia's defences,
Under threat of Bulgaria.

Already allowed the allies
Had used isle of Lemnos,
From which to attack
Gallipoli  - making states
Of confused neutrality.

By 24 August, via Rome,
News of imminent moves
Of Greek mobilisation -
rumours had begun; by halt
Of illegal alliance trades.

The applications made out
To Turkey and Germany -
Who face actions against
Their corruptive actions,
In regard to persecutions.

A new elected government,
Under minister Venizélos,
Then met with allied entente
Power representatives,
Discussing mutual support.

A standoff was quite evident
Between Turkish leader
And the recently appointed
Greek Prime minister - still
To hear about persecutions.

In such a situation, the belief
That Greek mobilisation
Remained a likely possibility -
Although Venizélos avoided
Any definite announcements.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Balkan Position - Expected Mobilisation of the Greek Army. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 26 August. P.7 Col 7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11812522/Daily-Telegraph-August-26-1915.html [Accessed: 26 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 26 August 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Greece

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